Sharks, Kings To Play Game At 49ers’ New Stadium

Tyler Kennedy #81 of the San Jose Sharks puts a backhand past goaltender Martin Jones #31 of the Los Angeles Kings across the crease area but misses the net in the first period during the NHL game at Staples Center on December 19, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)

The newly built Levi’s Stadium outbid Downtown San Franicso’s AT&T Park to host California’s game of the NHL stadium series, the league announced.

“The growing excitement around NHL hockey in California, the intensity of last season’s playoff series between these teams and the state-of-the-art setting at Levi’s Stadium will bring a thrilling new dimension to the Kings-Sharks rivalry,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement.

The game against Sharks will be Kings’ second straight outdoor stadium game. Last year, they played the Anaheim Ducks at Dodger Stadium, where the Ducks shut out the Kings 3-0 in front of 54,099 on Jan. 25.

Sharks Chief Operating Officer John Tortora expects the game at Levi’s Stadium to attract a capacity crowd of 68,500.

“We think this will be one of the bigger sporting events the Bay Area has ever seen,” Tortora said.